Sunday, October 31, 2010

NaNoWriMo. Writing This Month.

Well, it's that time of year again. National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, where writers challenge themselves to 30 continuous days of writing 50,000 words on a project.

Best of luck if you're participating in the November 1 - 30 event. Keep me/us posted!
fs

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Free Writing Workshop Monday

If you're in the L.A. area on Monday, November 1, bestselling author Noel Alumit will be hosting a free fiction writing workshop. It takes place in the Student Union at Cal State L.A., Monday, November 1 at 3:15 pm in the Alhambra Room, 3rd floor Student Union.

For more infomation, contact the Cross Cultural Centers at (323) 343-5001.
fs

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Daniel Black, Perfect Peace, in L.A.

Daniel Black, author of the novel Perfect Peace, will be doing a reading and signing in L.A. on Monday, October 18 at 3:15 - 4:30 pm, in the University-Student Union at Cal State L.A., Alhambra Room. (Daniel Black website)

Perfect Peace is the fictional story of a mother who wants a daughter so bad, that she decided to raise her seventh son as the daughter she always wanted.

The reading is presented as part of the Cross Cultural Centers Cup of Culture writers series, which highlights writers of color, women writers, and other writers from underrepresented communities.
fs

Thursday, October 14, 2010

L.A. Taste of Soul

If you're in L.A. this weekend, check out the annual Taste of Soul Festival. It takes place on Saturday, October 16 from 10 am - 6 pm on Crenshaw Blvd., between Martin Luther King Drive and Rodeo Drive.

Lots of great food, music, entertainment, and people.

I'm already tasting the hot catfish straight out of the fryer.
fs

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Prep School Negro

Just caught a trailer for this new documentary, The Prep School Negro. Looks fascinating.

It follows black people who are currently or formerly enrolled in prestigious, private (and mostly all-white) Prep Schools, and the challenges and triumphs they face as they straddle life in two worlds.

Though my high school wasn't private or all-white, it was a public, college prep one. I remember growing up in Detroit and going to Renaissance H.S. branded us as "the smart ones" or "the stuck-up ones" in our own neighborhoods and among other public school students. And that was tough coming from other black people.

I can only imagine what it's like when you move away for high school and face it from the people in your neighborhood as well as the people at your school.
fs

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Reconsider Columbus Day

I'm surprised people still celebrate Columbus Day, but they do. Saw this great video clip, Reconsider Columbus Day, which advocates for the development of an Indigenous People's holiday instead. Good points!
fs

Latino Book and Family Festival

If you're in the L.A. area, head over to the Cal State L.A. campus for the annual Latino Book and Family Festival. It runs until 6 pm today and features over 100 authors participating in panels and book signings. Lots of fun and a beautiful day!
fs